Bottled and Enhanced Water

The term “bottled water” actually applies to a number of different beverage products. Bottled waters can vary by their source, treatment and taste profile.

To help consumers better recognize and understand the differences between bottled water types, Health Canada has created standards of identity to help define and classify bottled waters. This information can be found here: Health Canada – Bottled Water.

For more information on the 100% recyclable packaging, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), visit Health Canada – Frequently Asked Questions on Bottled Water.


Different Types of Bottled Water

Spring water
Bottled potable water derived from an approved underground source [bore holes or springs that originate from a geological and physically protected underground water source and not from a public community water supply] that contains less than 500 mg/L total dissolved solids. Spring water may be treated to remove unwanted chemical and microbiological components but may not be labelled as “natural” (see below).

Natural spring water
Same as “spring water” and in Europe must meet the collection requirements of “natural mineral water” (as below) without any treatment to remove bacteriological components.

Mineral water
Bottled potable water obtained from an approved underground source [bore holes or springs that originate from a geological and physically protected underground water source and not from a public community water supply] that contains 500 mg/L or more of total dissolved solids. In Europe, mineral water may be treated to remove unwanted chemical and microbiological components but may not be labelled as “natural” (see below).

Natural mineral water
Natural mineral water is mineral water (as defined above), but must meet the following conditions: it is collected under conditions which guarantee the original bacteriological purity; it is bottled close to the point of emergence of the source with particular hygienic precautions; it is not subjected to any treatments (other than removal of unstable constituents by decantation and/or filtration with the aid of aeration) that modify its essential mineral constituents; and cannot be shipped in bulk.

  • A naturally carbonated natural mineral water is a natural mineral water which, after acceptable treatment, replacement of gas and packaging, has the same content of gas from the source.
  • A non-carbonated natural mineral water is a natural mineral water which, after acceptable treatment and packaging, does not contain free carbon dioxide in excess of the amount necessary to keep the hydrogen carbonate salts present in the water dissolved.
  • A decarbonated natural mineral water is a natural mineral water which, after acceptable treatment and packaging, does not have the same carbon dioxide content at emergence. A carbonated natural mineral water is a natural mineral water, after acceptable treatment and packaging, has been made effervescent by the addition of carbon dioxide from another origin.

Other Bottled Water

Artesian water
Bottled water from a well tapping a confined aquifer in which the water flows freely at the ground surface without pumping. It has been proposed that the collection of the water can be enhanced with the assistance of external pressure so long as such measures do not alter the physical properties, composition, and quality of the water.

Bottled water
Water that is placed in a sealed container or package and is offered for sale for human consumption or other consumer uses

Carbonated or sparkling water
Bottled water containing carbon dioxide

Distilled water
Bottled water that has been produced by a process of distillation and has an electrical conductivity of not more than 10 µS/cm and total dissolved solids of less that 10 mg/L

Drinking water
Bottled water obtained from an approved source that has undergone special treatment or that has undergone minimum treatment consisting of filtration (activated carbon and (or) particulate) and ozonation or equivalent disinfection process

Deionized water
Bottled water that has been produced through a deionization process to reduce the total dissolved solids concentration to less than 10 mg/L

Fluoridated water
Bottled water containing added fluoride in such an amount that the total concentration of added and naturally occurring fluoride does not exceed 1 mg/L

Glacial water
Bottled water from a source that is direct from a glacier. Glacial water shall meet the requirements of natural water

Natural water
Bottled water (such as spring, mineral, artesian or well water) obtained from an approved source that is from an underground formation and not derived from a municipal or public water supply system. This water has undergone no treatment other than physical filtration, iron removal, and that has not had any significant change occur in the total concentration of the major ions in comparison with the concentrations occurring in the approved source water

Purified water
Bottled water produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis, or other suitable process that contains not more than 10 mg/L of total dissolved solids. Water that meets this definition and is vaporized, then condensed, may be labelled distilled water

Well water
Bottled water from a hole bored, drilled, or otherwise constructed in the ground, which taps the water of an aquifer. Well water shall meet the requirements of natural water.

For more information from Health Canada, follow the link on Bottled Water.